Garden Walk celebrates 15 years of ecology.
"It’s basically like a trickle-down effect," she said.
Each walk features about five yards — this year’s has exactly five — that demonstrate sustainable, environmentally-friendly gardening techniques the EAC promotes year-round through its Yard Smart program and website.
"I’m saying, ‘I’m trying really hard to reduce the amount of synthetic fertilizers and chemicals I use on my lawn, to save water, to include native species.
I’m trying really hard to make my yard a place that’s safe for people, for animals," Armstrong said of some techniques considered for certifications.
She said it takes only three to four hours per week, about half an hour per day, to keep it up and running, depending on the season.
"I can’t raise enough food for my family, and I don’t have time to, so this is the perfect balance," she said.
"I can go out and pick a handful of berries or scoop up a handful of herbs and cook with those, but it’s more a habitat for animals."
"It’s supportive and informative for anybody who’s trying to do something like this," she said.
"She is going to come talk to us about local water quality and quantity issues … and things homeowners can do," Armstrong said.

Man walks so others can have access to clean water.
MARINE CITY — James Leitner is walking for water.
"I’m pulling 10 gallons of water every day," he said.
Leitner said the length of his journey — 3,200 miles — is what the average person in Tanzania will walk in a year to get water.
There also is a place on the website where people can donate to the Philadelphia Serengeti Alliance to help fund clean water projects in Tanzania.
According to the website, there are 307 broken wells in the Mara region of Tanzania that could provide clean water if they are repaired.
Most people have been friendly and supportive of his trek, Leitner said.
Leitner said he has done other water awareness events, including running 12 marathons while carrying about 45 pounds of water.
How to help James Leitner is walking 3,200 miles across North America from Princeton, New Jersey to San Francisco, California to raise awareness and money for clean water projects in the Mara region of Tanzania.
People can find out more about his cross country trek at http://missioncleanwater.com.

NEW YORK — Eric Thames sent a first-inning changeup from Jacob deGrom into the bullpen in right-center , 436 feet from home plate, for a two-run homer. Thames hit his 13th home run on May 9. Slowed by a hamstring injury and strep throat, it took him three weeks to hit No. 14. “I almost, like, dropped to my knees. That’s what it feels like, to actually hit a barrel,” Thames said after the Milwaukee Brewers’ 7-1 win over the New York Mets on Wednesday night. “The last three weeks, I’d get fastballs, I’d swing — foul ball or off the end.” Thames was signed by the Brewers after three seasons in South Korea, and his hot start is a big reason Milwaukee leads the NL Central. He left an April 26 game with a tight hamstring but tried to play through it. Then he missed three games in San Diego from May 15-18 because of strep throat. “My whole family was there to watch me play and then, like — bam! Plane landed, coughing,” he recalled. “That really set me back. I feel like my body was really exhausted.” He was in an 0-for-19 skid entering Tuesday, when he singled, tripled and walked twice. He reached four times for the second straight night Wednesday, also doubling and walking twice. He raised his average to .286 with 28 RBIs. “Eric’s back. He’s clearly in a good place,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said after his team won for just the third time in 10 games. “To have him back swinging good is a big sign for our offense.” Keon Broxton also went deep to give Junior Guerra a 3-0, second-inning lead. Guerra (1-0) allowed four hits in six scoreless innings , struck out…

How taking a walk in Seattle can bring clean water to remote areas of the world.
When we want clean water, we just turn on the tap.
But some 650 million people around the world do not have access to clean water, and by the year 2025, half the world’s population will be living in what’s known as water-stressed areas.
In many countries, people walk miles to find water and lug it home, and in many cases it is dirty and disease-ridden.
International charity World Vision, based in Federal Way, develops ways to bring fresh water to struggling regions, and today they tell us how we can help, and it couldn’t be simpler.
Samuel Irungu from World Vision shared his own story of growing up in Kenya with little access to drinking water, as well as the work being done by World Vision to bring clean water to remote areas of the world.
He also previewed this weekend’s Global 6K for Water.
World Vision’s Global 6K for Water takes place at 9:00 am on Saturday, May 6th at Gas Works Park in Seattle.
CLICK HERE for more information.
CLICK HERE to learn more about World Vision

PATASKALA – When Liberty Christian Academy senior Addie Dickerson first learned that some children in developing countries must walk 6 kilometers, or 3.72 miles, just to get drinking water, her heart sank.
In need of a senior project for school, she decided to partner with World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization, and bring a benefit 6 kilometer run/walk to Liberty Christian and the Pataskala area.
By registering, participants will ensure a child in a developing country gets access to clean water.
"People even get information about their child, and they have the (opportunity) to sponsor them for life, too," Dickerson said.
"It’s because it’s 3.7 miles, which is the average distance a child walks to get water (in developing countries) — and it’s not even clean water," she said.
"If you get sick and your stomach gets messed up here, you just go to the doctor," Dickerson said.
The can represents the clean water World Vision works to get to people in developing countries.
The event will follow a course around the school, which stands on Refugee Road, just south of Pataskala.
The Pataskala-area Global 6K for Water When: 5 p.m. May 6 Where: Liberty Christian Academy, 10447 Refugee Road How much: Individuals can register for $50, but if they register for the Eagles Soar for Others team before midnight on May 1 they can save $10.
What for: Proceeds will go to World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization that provides clean water to children in developing countries.

Samburu Project’s Walk for Clean Water in Hermosa Beach.
On April 30, the Samburu Project will hold its 8th Annual Walk for Water Pier to Pier Walk in Hermosa Beach.
These walks will be held other California locations such as Malibu and Woodside as well as in major metropolitan areas including Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco, Stamford, Conn., and London, England.
“Here in the South Bay as always it will be a special day for us.
Students are personally involved in fund-raising for the event.” Mira Costa High School students participate in the project through their Model U.N. class and their instructor Bob Timberlake, who is committed to the event.
“I come to the high school and explain the Walk for Water and the project itself.
We create shareable fundraising pages for the students participating in the Pier to Pier Walk, so they can send it to family and friends and get sponsors.” The Samburu Project has been working with Mira Costa students for six years, and the students represent an integral part of the fundraiser.
We have a tent set up with jerry cans like those that women use there to carry water.
Seeing them and being able to pick them up makes it easier for participants to relate to the experience of carrying cans that weigh 44 pounds when filled with water,” Swanson explains.
The walk, which starts at 8 a.m., both begins and ends at American Junkie, located at 68 Pier Ave. in Hermosa Beach.

“We weren’t worried about winning or beating North and the whole name thing, we just said this is a conference game and we want to start the doubleheader 1-0.
We stayed focused and we didn’t really make it a big deal or think ahead, and it was awesome to finally get the win.” South Medford 6-1, North Medford 3-8 RECAP: South Medford senior Pat Moore scores three runs after going 3-for-4 and strikes out 14 in the opener.
North Medford gets six of its 10 hits in Game 2 during the fourth and fifth innings to break the game open with seven straight runs.
The Panthers (8-4, 5-2) were up 4-3 in the seventh when Moore led off the inning with a double, Alexander walked and senior Bailee Tatum singled to load the bases.
After gaining its first lead in the doubleheader, North Medford took off from there and Austin didn’t allow a single baserunner over the final four innings of play.
“Once we got that lead we were not going to give it up, we had it from there,” said Austin, who struck out four and allowed five hits overall in Game 2.
“In this game it’s a matter of getting the timely hits,” said Black Tornado head coach Mike Mayben.
Early in the second game we had runners on third and we didn’t get those timely hits but as the game progressed we started getting those hits and building a little confidence.
South Medford;200;020;2;—;6;11;3 North Medford;002;010;0;—;3;4;2 Moore and Tatum; Austin and Salvador.
South Medford;010;000;0;—;1;5;1 North Medford;000;341;x;—;8;10;0 Moore and Tatum; Austin and Milam.